Distributor mechanism



Patented ct.l 5, 1948 OFFICE DISTRIBUTOR MECHANISM [timonel Williams, Haven, and tto E. Meyer, Sr., North Haven, Conn.

Application November 30, 1944, Serial No. 565,074

(Cl. 20G-2,7)

8 Claims. l

Generically this invention relates to a distributor mechanism but it is more particularly directed to such a mechanism for controlling the ignition in multiple cylinder internal combustion engines.

One ci the principal objects of this invention the provision of a distributor mechanism including a pair oi normally separated but contactable circuit making elements, and means to prevent pitting and fouling of the contact points i n contact by rap-id separation of said points to prevent formation of an arc.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a pair of axially aligned normally spaced contacts, one being movable and the other stationary, a rotary distributor cam element for periodically engaging said movable Contact to eiect engagement of the contacts, and means connected with the movable contact for instantly returning said movable contact to its original position after its disengagement with the cam.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a distributor mechanism including a stationary contact element, a recoil cartridge comprising a movable contact element normally spaced from said stationary contact, a rotary cam for periodically engaging said movable element, and means within said cartridge in connection with said movable contact adapted to bring about a quick disengagement of the contacts following the disengagement of said cam.

Another object of this invention is the provision of interchangeable multiple lobe cam elements for use with different numbers of cylinders and/ or cartridges.

Other important objects are, the provision of a distributor mechanism of this character for effecting a uniform functioning of the motor, a saving of fuel and oil by non-failure of ignition, and so constructed as to enable the easy replacement of parts.

Another important object is the provision of a ring and recoil cartridge including a mov-able Contact element engageable with a xed contact .by periodical engagement of a rotary distributor cam and means for effecting, upon engagement of the contacts, instant separation and return of the movable contact to its normal position whereby wiping and dragging or frictional engagement of the contact points with consequent fouling and pitting of said points is prevented.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a recoil cartridge mechanism comprising a movable contact element land a rapid action recoil mechanism in connection with said element, a rotary single lobe cam or an interchangeable multiple lobe cam for employment in connection with a variation in the number of cartridges with respect to the number of cylinders, so that said distributor mechanism will operate with a single cam and cartridges to correspond with the number of cylinders, or any number of cylinders may be operated by a cam having a multiplicity of lobes corresponding to the number of cylinders, or lobes corresponding to the number of cylinders with any number of cartridges, such as, for instance, 4 cartridges and an -lobe cam for operating 8 cylinders, or 6 cylinders and a l2-lobe cam for operating l2 cylinders.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several gures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view oi the distributor mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the recoil cartridge (enlarged) with parts in elevation and broken away. y

Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an interchangeable multilobe cam.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a, distributor or timing mechanism A and a firing and recoil cartridge mechanism B.

The distributor mechanism A comprises a circular stationary hollow shell I supported by a lug 45 attached to the engine and which may be constructed of brass, aluminum, or any suitable material, said shell being formed in its bottom 2 with a centrally disposed opening 3.

' Mounted in said opening is a bored bearing block 4 formed with a central annular portion 5 adapted to nt within said opening and with a reduced portion 5 extending within the shell above the bottom 2 and with an annular flange 1 seating against the under surface of said shell secured thereto by threaded bolts Extending through block l is cam shaft 9 actuated by the engine, and keyed to the upper end of which by key I0 is cam li, in the present instance formed with one lobe I2, for a purpose directly appearing.

Said block 4 is provided with an insulating bushing I3, and mounted on said cam seating on said block is a spacing and stabilizing ring I4. Positioned on the bottom 2 and spaced from side I5 of shell I is insulating supporting member I6 secured by screw bolts II having insulating washers I8 and collars I9 of a height corresponding to the thickness of bottom 2. Mounted on insulating member I6 are a pair of vertically spaced ring members secured by an annular series of bolts ZI extending through said rings, insulation I6, and bottom 2, and through an insulating bushing 22 having at its ends flanges or washers 23, said bolts being fastened by nuts 24.

Mounted and secured in equi-spaced relation between said rings 20 are a plurality of firing and recoil cartridges B.

Each of said cartridges B is formed of brass, aluminum, or other suitable material, with a hollow cylindrical body portion 25 and integral end portion 26 formed with a ilange 21 of greater diameter than the body portion and with a central bearing extension 28 formed with a centrally disposed bore 29. The other end 30 of said cartridge is identical to end 26 except that it is removable and secured by screws 3|, the bore 29 of which is of greater diameter than bore 29. Threadedly or otherwise mounted in the side I5 are a series of adjustable contact elements 32 tipped with silver, tungsten, platinum, or the like :t

and insulated from said side by insulating collars 33, and, in the present instance, corresponding to the number of cartridges B (Fig. l).

Each of said cartridges B is formed with a movable contact stem element 34 comprising telescopic sections 35 and 36. The contact end of section 35 is formed or tipped with silver, tungsten, platinum, or the like 3'I, and the cam engaging end of section 36 is preferably formed of ber or other suitable wear resisting material 33. The sections 35 and 36 may be constructed of steel, brass, aluminum, or other suitable material. Mounted on section 36 and rigidly secured thereto and adapted to seat against the end 26 is a washer 39 of any suitable material, and mounted on the telescopic end of section 35 is a similar washer 40. Mounted on section 36 intermediate and seating against disks 39 and 43v is a light recoil spring 4I and mounted on the section 3,5 seating against washer 4G and end 3] is a heavier recoil spring 42 the recoil action of which is greater than that of the other or lighter spring. Each of the ring and recoil cartridges is mounted so that the movable contact element 34 will be in axial alignment with and normally spaced from its respec- 4 tive fixed or stationary contact 32. Said cartridges are insulated from rings 20 and flanges 3'! by insulating material 43. The stationary contacts 32 are adjustable as to space with respect to the normal position of the respective movable contacts 34 by nuts 32', and when the distributor is once adjusted in accordance with a particular engine requirement it thereafter always remains in adjustment.

Owing to the small size of the cartridge B, (it being substantially the size as shown in Fig. 2) it was found desirable to simplify the construction and limit the number of coacting movable parts within the cylinder and to have such parts workable in aligned direction, owing to the rapid reciprocal movement of the coacting telescopic shaft sections 35 and 36, therefore mounted on said shafts 35 and 36 are the aligned recoil and lighter springs 42 and 4I, respectively, of a common diameter and of a size coextensive with the interior diameter of the body portion or shell 25, the tension of the lighter spring being ratioed with that of the coil spring so that the momentary striking action of cam I2 with respect to section 36 will initially slightly compress the latter spring 4I and it compressing spring 42 sufficiently to effect a sharp blow-like contact of section 35 with stationary contact 3,2, the rebound action of spring 42 preventing more than instantaneous engagement of said contacts, thereby preventing wiping, dragging, or frictional engagement of the contact points 3'I and 32, thereby eliminating the consequent fouling and pitting of said points as has heretofore been prevalent. It will be noted that the predetermined tensioning of spring 4I with respect to spring 42, in accordance with particular engine requirements, provides at all times a flexible connection between said sections 35 and 36 and eliminates the positive seating of rod section 36 in section 35.

In Fig. 5 is shown a multi-lobe cam 44 interchangeable with cam II, and, in the present instance, is formed with four lobes I2, but which may be of any desired conguration and formed with any number of lobes depending upon the particular operating requirements.

With further reference to the operation of the distributor and the cartridge, it will be apparent that when cam I I is rotated by shaft 9 it momentarily engages the end 38 of a movable contact 34 effecting a slight telescopic movement of section 36 with respect to section 35 and compressing spring 4I between washers 38 and 40 sufliciently to compress spring 42 and move end 31 'g of movable contact 3.4 into ring engagement with stationary contact 32, and upon disengagement of said cam from end 38, the recoil action of spring 42 effects instant separation of the contact points and return of the movable contact and associated parts to their normal position, thereby preventing misflring by reason of pitting and fouling of the points as heretofore prevalent.

[It will be apparent that we have provided a distributor mechanism (Fig. 1) for the ignition system of internal combustion engines adaptable to various types of such engines and varying numbers of cylinders without changing the distributor unit other than varying the number of cartridges and interchangeable cams in accordance with the particular engine and cylinder requirements, and arranging the wiring, which may be connected on any part of the rings 20, in accordance with such changes.

The cartridge can be adapted to operate at any varying R. P. M., under very low and very high speed conditions, by simply varying the strength of the springs in accordance with engine design and operating requirements.

A four cylinder distributor can consist of one, two, or four cartridges which is determined by the type of cam used, that is, the number of lobes. This also applies to any distributor of this character with respect to any given number of cylinders; for instance, in Fig. 1 there is shown a six cylinder distributor with six cartridges and a single cam to operate them. This arrangement can be changed to operate twelve cylinders by using a two-lobe cam. Also, six cylinders can be operated by employing three cartridges and a two- .lobe cam, or one cartridge with a six-lobe cam.

It is further apparent that in accordance with the structural arrangement and the axial alignment of the points the latter will contact evenly and perfectly at all times, such construction materially reducing wear of operating parts, and the cam, cam shaft, and bearings or bushings may become abnormally Worn Without affecting the operation of the distributor.

From the above it Will be observed that the distributor or timing device A is adaptable to all types of automobile and airplane internal combustion engines, with any number of cylinders, and the recoil cartridge operating in connection with any given number of cylinders, whether odd or even, single or in multiple, and can be operated by asingle-lobe cam or a multiple-lobe cam, and with different numbers of cartridges, in accordance with the particular operating requirements.

It will be apparent from the above description that we have provided a distributor mechanism adaptable to all types of internal combustion engines, and which by reason of its unique structural arrangement including axially aligned stationary and movable contacts insures at all times positive ignition, a maximum spark, and preventing fouling, misring, even Linder long and continuous operation at high speeds, and effecting a saving in gas and oil, and is therefore particularly applicable to airplane and other engines subject to continuous operation for extended periods, yet one simple in construction, comprising few parts, manufacturable at a reasonable cost, and eicient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most eliicient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of our invention will necessarily vary, We desire to emphasize that various changes in details oi" construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from or sacricing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

l. A distributor mechanism for use in an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a pair of axially aligned normally spaced contacts, one being movable and the other stationary, a recoil mechanism in connection with the movable contact, said mechanism embodying a dual spring construction including aligned springs successively coacting with each other and with said movable contact in both directions of its movement to effect substantial instantaneous engagement and disengagement of the contacts, a rotary cam, and means for rotating said cam.

2. A distributor mechanism for use in an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a pair of axially aligned normally spaced contacts, one being movable and the other stationary, a recoil mechanism in connection with the movable Contact, said mechanism embodying a dual spring construction including aligned springs successively coacting with each other and With said movable contact in both directions of its movement to effect substantial instantaneous engagement and disengagement of said contacts, the recoil action of one of said springs being greater than that of the other, a rotary cam, and means for rotating said cam.

3. A distributor mechanism for use in an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a pair of axially aligned normally spaced contacts, one being movable and the other stationary, a recoil mechanism in connection with the movable contact, said mechanism embodying a dual spring construction including aligned springs successively coacting with each other and with said movable contact in both directions of its movement to effect substantial instantaneous engagement and disengagement of the contacts, said movable contact including telescopic stem sections, one of said springs being mounted on each of said sections the recoil action of one of which is greater than that of the other, means in connection with said stem sections to permit slight relativev movement therebetween, a rotary cam for periodically engaging one of said sections, and means for rotating said cam.

4. A distributor mechanism for use in an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a pair of axially aligned normally spaced contacts, one being movable and the other stationary, a recoil mechanism in connection With the movable contact, said mechanism being adapted to engage and bring about a quick disengagement of the contacts, said mechanism including telescopic stem sections constituting said movable contact, means in connection with the stem sections to permit slight relative movement therebetween, a recoil spring mounted on each section the recoil action of one of which is greater than that of the other, said springs successively coacting with each other and With said movable contact in both directions of its movement to effect substantial instantaneous engagement and disengagement of said contacts, a shell mounted on said sections and housing said springs, the ends of said housing constituting, respectively, seats for one end of each spring, a rotary cam for periodically engaging one of said sections, and means for rotating said cam.

5. A distributor mechanism of the character described comprising a stationary contact, a recoil cartridge including a movable contact normally spaced from and in axial alignment With said stationary contact, a rotary cam for periodically engaging said movable contact to effect engagement of said contacts, and recoil means within said cartridge in connection with said movable contact adapted to instantly effect separation of the contacts and the return of said movable contact to its initial position upon disengagement of said cam, said means embodying a dual spring construction including aligned springs successively coacting With each other and with said movable contact in both directions of its movement to eiiect said instantaneous engagement and disengagement of said contacts and means for rotating said cam.

6. A distributor mechanism for the ignition system of an internal combustion engine having a given number of cylinders, comprising a corresponding number of stationary contacts, a corresponding number of recoil cartridges each including a movable contact normally spaced from and in axial alignment with a respective stationary contact, a rotary cam adapted during its cycle of. rotation to momentarily and successively en- 5 gage each of said movable contacts to effect its engagement with its aligned stationary contact, and recoil means within each cartridge in connection with its movable contact adapted to instantly effect separation of the contacts and return of said movable contact to its initial position upon disengagement of the cam therefrom, said means embodying a dual spring construction including aligned springs successively coacting with each other and with the movable contact in both directions of its movement to effect instantaneous engagemen-t and disengagement of said contacts, and means for rotating said cam.

'7. A distributor mechanism for use in an ignition system of an internal combustion engine adapted to operate -with a given number of cylinders,V comprising a stationary contact, a recoil cartridge including a movable contact normally spacedifrom and in axial alignment with said stationary contact, a multi-lobe rotary cam, the

number of lobes corresponding tovsaid given number of cylinders, each of said lobes adapted during the rotative cycle of said cam to momentarily and successively engage said movable Contact t0 effect its engagement with said stationary contact, said movable contact including coacting stem sections, means in connection with said sections to vpermit slight relative movement therebetween, and recoil means within said cartridge in connection With said movable contact adapted to instantly effect separation of the contacts and the return of said movable contact to its initial position upon disengagement of the engaging lobe, said means embodying a dual spring construction including aligned springs successively coacting with each other and with :said movable contact in. both directions of its movement to effect instantaneous engagement and disengagement of 'said contacts, and means for rotating said cam.

8. lA distributor mechanism for use in an ignition system of an internal combustion engine adapted to operate with a given number of cylinders, comprising half as many stationary contacts as there are cylinders, a corresponding number of lrecoil cartridges, each of said cartridges including a movable contact normally spaced from and in axial alignment with a stationary contact, a two-lobe rotary cam, each of said lobes adapted during the rotative cycle of said cam to momentarily and successively engage each of said movable contacts to eiect its engagement with vits stationary contact, and recoil means Within each cartridge in connection with its movable contact adapted to instantly effect separation of the contacts and the return of the movable contact to its initial position upon disengagement of the cam therefrom, said means embodying a dual spring construction including aligned springs successively coacting with each other and with said movable contact in both directions of its movement to effect instantaneous engagement and disengagement of said contacts, and means for rotating said cam.

ARMOND WILLIAMS. OTTO E. MEYER, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 808,553 Le Pontois Dec. 26, 1905 1,001,702 Stickney Aug. 29, 1911 1,541,497 Herz June 9, 1925 2,261,158` Holliday Nov. 4, 1941 

